Retainer for partitions of crates.



G. C. D. MILLER.

RETAINER FOR PARTITIONS 0F GRATES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1911.

mvfmron o 70 earye CD. fVf//e/t UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE'C. D. MILLER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CARY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

RETAINER non. PARTITIONS or oanTEs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application led May 8, 1911. Serial No. 625,682.

the city of New York, borough of Brook-l lyn, county of Kings,V and lState of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Retainer for Partitionsof Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a retainer for partitions in cases, crates or the like, and is more particularly adapted rfor crates adapted to transport bottles of liquid, etc., the partitions of which crates are subject to strain of a load, or to Vsudden force or blows, whereby said partitions are liable to be wrenched apart or torn from their desired positions relative to each other.

The object ofthe invention is to strengthen the partitions at the points where the great; est strains are exerted. thereon, z. e., at the juncture of the crossing partitions, at which points it is customary to mortise said partitions together, or to otherwise fasten them. This object is accomplished in the resent invention by a stay or retainer app ied to the partitions at their intersection, said retainer being so constructed that the sidewise displacement of the partitions precludes bending the radial arms or the flanges of the retainer.

The retainer of this invention is characterized by the following structural features, namely: a plate the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions of the joint formed by the intersecting partitions, radial arms integral with said plate, said radial arms being provided with flan es adapted to embrace the partitions, an truss fianges positioned intermediate the adjacent flanges of the radial arms.

Other features of novelty and the advantages thereof willy appear in the course of the detailed description taken in connection with the drawings.

In theI accompanyin drawings, I have illustrated one ractica embodiment of the invention, but the construct-ion shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing several retainers applied to the meetingV parts of crossing partitions, such as are commonly used in shipping cases for bottles or similar packages. Fig. 2 is a cross section taken through a retainer and one partition, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the retainer detached from the partitions. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the retainer. Fig. 5 is an inverted or bottom plan view of the retainer.

lFig. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the retainer is formed. Fig. 7 is a diagram, the dotted lines taken in connection with the full line showing of the radial arms, illustrating an ordinary cross shaped retainer, -but the webs intermediate the radial arm show a retainer'embodying one of the features of this invention.

In the construction of crates or' packing cases for bottles, cans and the like, it is customary to employ partitions composed of thin strips of wood, each strip being slotted at intervals intermediate its ends to coperate with a similarly slotted Dintersecting strip, said strips or partitions crossing eachother at right. angles and producing rectangular cells or compartments within the crate or case. The employment of slots in the partitions weakens them to such an extent that the partitions are liable to break at sulch places or to become displaced with relation to each other when the crate is subjected to hard usage. In Fig. 1 there is shown a portion of two partitlons 5, and a portion of two other partitions 6, thelatter partitions being arranged at right angles to partitions 5 so as to produce rectangular cells or compartments 7. At the corners of each cell or compartment,z'. e., at the meeting or intersecting joint of partitions 5, 6, are positioned the required number of retainers or stays for precluding relative movement between the partitions. The retainer of this invention is composed of a single piece of `metal, preferably sheet metal, and in the manufacture of the retainer, a blank of the form shown in Fig. 6 is first produced, said blank being bent so as to result in the complete retainer of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

In Fig. 7 there 1s shown a cross shaped retainer in full and dotted lines, but said figure illustrates one of the essential features of this inventionf'to wit, webs of metal between the arms of the cross. To this end, my improved retainer embodies a plate 8,

integral vwith plate 8 andv they depend from- I the metal 9 thereof.

The retainers are fastened to the partitions by suitable securing means, such as nails, which ass through apertures 13 in the arms o the retainer so that the nails are embedded in each partition.

for reinforcing crossing partitions.

l I, icross stay 1s open.

ilanges 12 .positioned flanges of the radial arms, said truss-flangesy In the case of an ordinary cross shaped stay provided' with anges on the radial arms, experience has showny that strain or a 'blow 0nthe partitions will result in distortion and bendingvlof thecross stay, the same being of very little utility as a melixlis e present invention overcomes the objections, `from a practical standpoint, to which the The new retainer is characterized, inthe iirst instance by the .presence of a certain amount of metal in the form of webs 9 between the arms of the cross, and, in the second instance, by truss depending from the webs'9 and intermediate the depending being inclined relative to the flanges' of the arms. It is ap arentvthat the webs and the truss ianges a ord additional strength and rigidity to the arms of the retainer,fand, as a matterof fact, the arms are so reinforced, by the resence of metal in the plane of, and at rig t angles to, the arms, that they cannot become bent vor distorted by the pressure, weight, or rough usage to. which L they are ordinarily subjected. By adding .may be punched in the arms.

the webs 9 and trusses 12 to the construction, the retainer resists sidewise displacement of the arms 10 and flanges l1, and

prevents, also, thelrupture of the partitions at the mortlsed joints, for the reason that` the webs 9 vform a support or brace to the radlal' arms m a horlzontalplane, whereas the trusses 12v constitute a sup ort or` Arelnforcement for the arms and the d 1n l ependflanges.' in a different horizontal plane. yl retainer 1s simple, strong, durable, easily ap lied, and economical to manufacture. T e blanks of Fig.Y 6 are cut or stamped without-substantial waste from a sheet of metal, and the flanges .are bent in a suitable die, at which time the nail holes To apply thestay, 1t 1s slipped upon the partitions for the anges to embrace the side ,faces mame thereof, and nails are driven through the holes 13 to fasten the stay against displacement.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- i,

l. A retainer embodying av plate, the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions of the joint 'to which the retainer is to be applied, a plurality of arms extending radially from said plate, said arms being adapted for engagement with intersecting partitions, and truss ianges integral with said'plate, sald truss flan es being positioned diagonally to the radlal arms, whereby said arms are stayed by the truss tlanges against displacement.

2. A retainer embodying a plate, arms extending radially from Said plate, each arm being provided with integral depending ianges, and truss flanges integral with the plate and the arms, said truss flanges being disposed diagonally to said arms for the purpose of preventing sidewise displacement of the arms with relation to each other and the plate.

3. A retainer adapted to be applied to intersecting partitions, said retainer embod ing a plate, radial arms integral with said plate, ianges dependin from-each of said arms, and a plurality o webs integral with vsaid plate, said webs being at the intersection of the arms and `operating as stays to prevent sidewise displacement of the arms relativeto each other and to said plate.

tending radially from said plate, webs integral with said plate and each positioned intermediate two of said arms, flanges depending from each of said arms, said flanges being adapted to engage the sides of a partition, and truss anges positioned diagonally to the arms and the depending langes.

rality of-arms integral with, and extending radially from, said plate, said plate embodying a plurality of webs which are joined ,with said arms beyond the lines of intersection between the arms, flanges depending from the arms of saidplate, and a plurality of truss flanges depending from the webs of arms, flanges depending from said arms, and truss flanges depending from said webs, each truss flange being positioned diagonally to the adjacent ianges of two of said arms,'whereby said webs reinforce said arms in one horizontal plane, and said truss flanges reinforce or staythe arms and the depending ianges in another horizontal plane.

retainer adapted to be applied to said plate and united to said anges of the I 4. A retainer embodying a plate, arms ex- 5. A retainer'embodying a plate, a plu- A 6. A sheet metal retainer provided with .a i plurality of arms, webs intermediate said intersecting. artitions, said retainer em- In testimony whereof I have signed my bodying a p ate, arms extending radially name to this specification in the presence of therefrom and a plurality of webs positioned two subscribin Witnesses.

diagonally to the arms, said Webs o erating EORGE C. D. MILLER. as stays to prevent sidewise disp acement Witnesses: of the arms relative to each other and to H. I. BERNHARD, said plate. J. F. MOTHERSHEAD. 

